Why you need to massage your breasts

Breast massage + self-love

How often do you take time to touch, massage and feel your breasts? How often do you experience your breasts and chest with tenderness and love - outside of sex or breastfeeding?

There is something very tender about our breasts and the connection of our breasts and chest to our energetic hearts.

Breasts have been either sexualised or turned into feeding machines for babies (if you had babies or breastfed). They can be both. And they are so much more.

How is your connection to your breasts?

Do you take time to massage them? Outside of a quick monthly breast self-exam (when did you last check your boobs?).

The importance of our breasts and health

Breasts are pretty incredible really. Each breast has around 15-20 lobes (or sections) arranged almost like a flower petal around the nipple. There are lobules and ducts which can potentially produce milk. There is adipose tissue, ligaments and blood vessels. There is no muscle rather the pectoral muscles lie behind the breast on the chest wall. However, there is the lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system is part of our immune system. The lymph contains white blood cells and the lymph nodes filter the lymph and help fight infection. Lymph nodes can often be swollen when we have an infection like a cold. But it can of course be a more challenging health issue.

Although no lymph nodes in the breasts there are connected nodes in the armpits, above the collarbones and in the neck (there are lots more lymph nodes in our body!).

Massage for breast health

Massaging our breasts we support our lymphatic system which can become stagnant. We support the blood circulation in our breasts. And from an ayurvedic view, we connect with the prana (or energy) and the marma points (pressure points).

When we massage our breasts we touch our chest, our energetic heart. The hridayam is at the sternum. It’s a marmapoint and it’s our spiritual heart. The space of love and compassion. The heart, which may feel burdened, broken, overwhelmed and tender. The heart, which can feel overflowing with joy and love. Of compassion and belonging. There are also marma points on either side between the ribs.

Massaging our breasts and chest with love, tenderness and awareness we connect with our energetic heart. How often is your chest touched with sensitivity and care? How often do you think about your breasts with love, pride and affection?

If we even think about our breasts it is often with negativity. They are too small, or too big? Too saggy, wrinkly, the nipple is in the “wrong” place or one is higher/lower/smaller/bigger than the other. Perhaps you had breast surgery, reconstruction or mastectomy. And although potentially lifesaving we may be on a journey rebuilding the relationship to our chest and breast tissue. If you have/had breast cancer please always get your consultant’s advice regarding massage and the use of any oils.

What is your relationship to your breasts? Your own views… not societies - or reflect on how your culture and society’s opinions have affected your loving relationship with your breasts.

For some women, breast massage feels too much, too intrusive… because we feel so tender here. We have been guarding our hearts. Our hearts have been broken. Allowing this disarmouring can be a journey. Perhaps simply start by resting your hands on the sternum and breathe. No more for a while. And then little by little explore. And know that intense feelings can come up and that’s ok.

Loving touch and breast massage

Warm up your hands and place some oil in the palms. Rest your hands on the sternum connecting to your energetic heart, with love and gratitude. Slide the fingers to the top of your collarbones and gently make little pumps to support the lymph, perhaps slide the fingers to the back of the jaw/ears too for lymphatic drainage.
Bring the balms back to your heart making circular movements. Then take your fingertips just to the sides of the sternum between the ribs.
Start making circular movements on the breasts. Using one or both hands.
Bring the massage towards the lymph nodes near the armpits.
Be intuitive and creative.
Finish with the hands on the heart again

Benefits of breast massage

Supports blood circulation
Support lymphatic drainage
Reduces stagnation and relieves pain (think swollen, heavy breasts, cysts)
Scar tissue
Happy hormone release. Potentially increase oxytocin levels! (See this blog)
The circulation of Prana (or energy)
Connection to the feminine energy of the breasts
Connecting with our energetic heart of love and compassion
Awareness of your breasts and how they change depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle (if you have one). And knowing what’s normal for you!

What oils to use for breast massage:

There are specific breast oils or balms. I use Osi Oils Féminin Organic Ayurveda Breast Oil (use ANJA10 to save $£)
Sesame oil (not toasted - just regular) is a generally good oil for most people. You can get one HERE (use ANJAYOGA to save £)
Most regular massage oils such as almond, sunflower or jojoba.
Castor oil is excellent for cysts or fibroid tissue (you can also make a compress). I like Castor Vida (Castor oil + compress) discount code: ANJALANGE